Adjustable motor supporting means for agricultural elevators



Oct. 23, WI V ADJUSTABLE MOTOR SUPPORTING MEANS FOR AGRICULTURAL ELEVATORS INVENTOR. W/LHELM .vurz

Filed Dec.

ATTORNEY Patented 001:. 23, 19 51 ADJUSTABLE MOTOR SUPPORTING MEANS FOR AGRICULTURAL E-LEQZATORS Wilhelm Vutz, Goldwater, Ohio, assignor to Avco .Manufacturing Corporatiomflincinnati, hio ,.a

corporation'ofiDelaware Applica'tion December 8, 1949;5erialjNoii131iZ2 4 Claims.

The present invention relates to -:an: adjustable :supporting legforzbracing a motor mount secured to one side of a portable-agricultural elevator.

The invention has particular reference to an adjustable leg construction for use with an elevator incorporating a conveyor chute which :may .be adjusted to various :elevations for efficient :operation aunder all conditions.

The .novel structure .disclosed herein has particular iutility when used conjunction with an installation wherein .the: motor mount is secured .for the motor:mount,.regardless of the required .2

.inclinationof the-elevator-conveyor chute during periods of ,operation.

Anobject of the present invention .is the Provision of an adjustable motor mount supporting leg structure that can be easily and quickly swung into a convenient unobstructing position parallel to the axis of the conveyor chute when operationof the elevatoris discontinued and .the chute is tobe lowered into itsiinoperative, transportable position.

It will-be obvious "from this disclosure that another-object of the invention is the provision of ;a cheap and. simple :supporting structure ithat can be :iadjusted tosupport :the :motor imount ;of :an elevator durin all periods of its operation Without interference .withl'thetension or safijllfitment of any drive belts operatively connected to a motor or engine supported by the mount.

The novel structure disclosed has the additional advantage of preventing the imposition of a transverse torque on the conveyor chute, thereby precluding the formation of abnormal stresses and strains detrimental to the elevator structure.

A particular advantage of the present invention is that it provides uniform support for the elevator motor mount during periods of operation thus preventing twisting of the motor mount and possible resultant misalignment of the motor or other power supply means supported thereby.

The novel features that are characteristic of the invention are set forth in the appended claims; the invention itself, however, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood from the following description of a specific embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of the lower rend crf :an elevator conveyor -,c,hute showing an internal.combustion.engineeperatively associated therewith andiully supported by the novel adjustable supporting,Iegstructure disclosed herein.

Figure .2 isaside .elevational ,view showing the lateral jrelations'hipof the conveyor chute, engine,

and ,leg structure.

With reference to the figures, itwill be noted that-a structure made a cording o h teac i ,of the presentinvention may be used to advantags with an agricultural elevator comprising ,a nveyor chut l, ihavin ecur d to its .ilower .en'd .a'hopper 2. The conveyor chute is pivotally "attached to a :reach tube "3 which may be releasa'bly secured to a portable truck (not shown) and-may 'beiincline'd atvarious angles relative "to the ground lev el to facilitate the transfer of farmproduceysupplied to-a hopperz, from the ground level to a storage bin at a higher elevation.

' The *power for 1 driving the elevator and conveying -the farm produce is supplied by power supply means, such as an internal combustion engine- 4, :which may 'be supported by -a -motor :mount generally designated 5, rigidly secured :to lateral face 6 of the conveyorchute, A convenitio'naligea'r ;reduc'.tion-.:unit C1,;d'IiV8I1 :;by a belt 8, operatively connected .with :the: conveyor chute. 'lI he 1be1t:is adriven =;by pulley of engine (Land .iszin cdriving engagementnwith pulley I'mof-the gear innit. j

fllhemQtorzmcunt.ronstructedzacmrding:tozthe present invention, incorporates a crossbar ll which is rigidly secured to the lower face of the conveyor chute and extends laterally and outwardly therefrom as best shown in Figure 2. Longitudinal supporting members l2, disposed parallel to lateral face 6 of the conveyor chute,

are secured at one end to crossbar H and at the other end to another laterally extending bar Ila rigidly fastened to and projecting from lateral face 6.

A mounting plate I3 to which engine 4 is secured is supported by members l2 and is provided with conventional adjusting slots and bolts M. A take-up bolt I5 is also provided between an upstanding ear HA, secured to crossbar II, and the mounting plate proper for facilitating tension adjustment of belt 8 in a standard manner as required.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that, without some means for carrying part of the Weight of the engine and its mounting plate, a considerable transverse torque will be imposed on the conveyor chute, creating abnormal stresses and strains therein. These stresses, in conjunction with the normal vibration of the engine and conveyor chute incidental to ordinary operation, foster fatigue failures at various points in the structure. This unfavorable condition can be avoided by the provision of an adjustable supporting leg 16 pivotally secured at H to an outstanding end of crossbar II. The lower end of the leg is provided with a ground shoe l8 for distributing the load carried by the leg over a relatively large ground area. A slotted crossbrace l9, pivotally secured near the midpoint of leg I6, as at 20, is engaged by a clamping handle 21 threadedly secured to an outstanding end of the other crossbar. a

As the elevator is adjusted to any desired operating position, shoe l8 may be swung into engagement with the ground merely by loosening clamping handle 2!, thereby permitting the st-.

ted cross-brace l9 to slide to a position commensurate with that of leg l8 when the ground shoe is properly positioned. Handle 2| is tightened thereafter, thus rigidly clamping the structure and assuring full and uniform support for the outer corners of the motor mount. The supporting leg and brace thus not only prevent twisting of the conveyor chute but also prevent twisting of the motor mount and any resultant misalignment of the driving engine.

Ordinarily, the conveyor chute is lowered to a more or less horizontal position to facilitate transportation of the elevator to a new location of activity, and for this reason, it will'be apparent that an advantage of the herein disclosed structure is that it can be easily and quickly swung to a position more or less parallel to the axis of the conveyor chute, in which position it does not hinder in any way the transportability of the elevator.

Persons experienced in the use and manufacture of farm implements will readily recognize that the novel structure taught by the present invention is not only simple and convenient to use but may be cheaply and easily fabricated from low cost materials.

The preferred embodiment of the invention has been described with reference to an internal combustion engine as the driving means. Other types of motive power, such as electric motors, may be used without modifying the utility or applicability of the present invention in any way.

Number Having described a preferred embodiment of my invention, I claim:

1. In combination with an agricultural elevator having a conveyor chute, a motor mount rigidly secured to the conveyor chute and extending laterally outwardly therefrom, a rigid supporting leg pivotally secured to an outstanding portion of said motor mount for ground engagement and an adjustable brace pivotally secured to said supporting leg near its midpoint and releasably secured to another outstanding portion of said motor mount.

2. In an agricultural elevator having a conveyor chute, motor supporting means rigidly secured to and laterally extending from the conveyor chute, motor mounting means adjustably secured to said laterally extending means, a ground supporting leg pivotally secured to an extending portion of said laterally extending means, an adjustable brace pivotally secured to said supporting leg at a point remote from its pivotal attachment to said laterally extending means, and means for releasably securing said brace to a portion of said laterally extending means spaced from the point of pivotal attachment of said supporting leg.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 and, in addition, a ground shoe secured to the end of said supporting leg remote from its pivotal attachment to saidlaterally extending means.

4. In combination with an agricultural elevator having a conveyor chute, a motor mount secured to the conveyor chute and extending outwardly therefrom, a rigid supporting leg pivotally secured to a portion of said motor mount for ground engagement and an adjustable brace pivotally secured to said supporting leg and releasably secured to another portion of said motor mount.

WILI-IELM VUTZ.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date 1,212,396 Pfeiffer et al. Jan. 16, 1917 2,332,729 Klosterman Oct. 26, 1943 2,397,570 Smoker Apr. 2, 1946.

Mayrath Sept. 2'7, 1949 

